eful curves. Almost all the walks are sown with
these _burladores_, as they are termed.

A large portion of the grounds consists of an orange-grove, varied with
sweet lemon-trees. The trees are sufficiently near to each other to
afford universal shade, without being so thickly planted as to interfere
with the good-keeping of the grass, nor with the movement of promenading
parties. In the centre of this grove is a beautiful edifice,--a square
pavilion entirely faced, within and without, with the _azulejos_, with
the exception only of the roof. Around it is a colonnade of white
marble, enclosing a space raised two feet above the ground, and
surrounded by a seat of the same mosaic. The interior is occupied by a
table, surrounded with seats.

The subterranean baths, called the baths of Maria Padilla, are entered
from the palace end of the garden. They extend to a considerable
distance under the palace, and must during the summer heats, have been a
delightfully cool retreat.

This _alcazar_ is probably the best specimen of a Moorish residence
remaining in Europe. The Alhambra would, no doubt, have surpassed it,
but for the preference accorded by the Emperor, Charles the Fifth, to
its situation over that of Seville: owing to which he contented himself
with building a gallery over the principal court at the latter; while at
Granada, he destroyed a large portion of the old buildings, which he
replaced by an entire Italian palace. At present the ornamented
apartments of the Seville palace are more numerous, and in better
preservation than those of the Alhambra.

Both, however, would have been thrown into the shade, had any
proportionate traces existed of the palace of Abderahman the Third, in
the environs of Cordova. Unfortunately nothing of this remains but the
description. It is among the few Arab manuscripts which escaped the
colossal _auto-da-fe_ of Ferdinand and Isabella, and would appear too
extravagant to merit belief, but for the known minuteness and accuracy
of the Arab writers, proved by their descriptions of the palaces and
other edifices which remain to afford the test of comparison.

The immense wealth lavished by these princes, must also be taken into
consideration, and especially by the Caliphs of Cordova, who possessed a
far more extended sway than belonged to the subsequent dynasties of
Seville and Granada. According to a custom prevalent at their court,
rich presents were offered to the sovereign on variou